frightfiction Chapter 1364 Willful
Chapter 1364 Willful
The other party first distracted her by mentioning the child falling from the tree, then stole the gift box, coated it with deadly poison, and deliberately threw it into the bushes, waiting for her to retrieve the embroidery and personally deliver it to the Su family's birthday banquet.
When that time comes, as long as someone touches this poisoned embroidery, whether it's Susan or someone else, once the poison takes effect, the Zhan family will become the target of a frame-up, and they will be unable to clear their name no matter what.
What a vicious scheme!
Zhan Miao felt a chill run down her spine, her fingers holding the embroidery trembled slightly, and a wave of fear washed over her.
She gazed at the dense thicket of grass, her expression gradually darkening. She knew this was no ordinary petty theft; someone was definitely after the Zhan family.
Who is it? Who would act with such meticulous care?
She dared not think too deeply, only feeling a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
"Miss, is there something wrong with this embroidery?" The servant came over and saw the unusual ointment on the embroidery, his face showing surprise.
Zhan Miao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
She glanced at the poisoned embroidery in her hand, then at the bundle in her arms, her eyes hardening: "Burn this poisoned embroidery to destroy the evidence!"
The servant asked timidly, "Are we still going to the Su residence?"
She paused for a moment, then a cold smile appeared on her lips: "Of course I'll go to the Su residence. Not only will I go, but I'll also personally deliver this spare embroidery pattern to Susan."
She wanted to see what this person behind the scenes was really up to after all this scheming.
Zhan Miao returned to the carriage, raised his hand and threw the poisoned embroidery into the brazier, burning it to ashes. He then carefully examined the embroidery in his arms again, confirming that there was nothing wrong with it, before urging the coachman to hurry to the Su residence.
Zhan Miao gripped the embroidery tightly in her fingers, but there was no longer a trace of mockery in her heart.
It seems this birthday banquet is unlikely to be peaceful.
And Zhan Miao is likely to be drawn into a storm she never anticipated today.
She curled her lips in a mocking smile, ready to meet any challenge head-on. She, a daughter of the Zhan family, was no pushover.
When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Su residence, it was already bustling with noise.
The vermilion gate was wide open, with festive lanterns hanging above it. Guests coming and going were all dressed in fine clothes, creating a lively scene.
Zhan Miao straightened her skirt, carefully put away the spare embroidery pattern that was not contaminated with poison, gave the servant a few more instructions, and then lifted her skirt and walked gracefully into the mansion.
As soon as she stepped into the front hall, she was led to the inner courtyard by Susan's personal maid.
Inside the hall, wine glasses clinked and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air. Susan, dressed in a pomegranate-red silk dress with gold embroidery, was surrounded by a group of young ladies from noble families, laughing radiantly.
Upon seeing Zhan Miao enter, Su Shanshan's gaze fell upon the brocade box carried by the servant behind her. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes. She raised her voice and laughed, "Miss Zhan is punctual. I thought you wouldn't come to my birthday banquet."
Her tone wasn't particularly respectful, but Zhan Miao wasn't annoyed. He smiled and said, "Miss Su is too kind. I specially prepared a unique congratulatory gift for you. Although we encountered some setbacks on the way, it didn't delay today's auspicious time."
As she spoke, she gestured for the servant to present the brocade box. The embroidery slowly unfolded, revealing a fierce tiger coiled in the forest, majestic and awe-inspiring, while in the very center lay a round, chubby cat, its endearing appearance completely out of place with the surrounding somber atmosphere.
Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.
Susan's face flushed red instantly, then turned pale, and she pointed at Zhan Miao, trembling with anger: "Zhan Miao! How dare you mock me like this!"
“Miss Su, you are mistaken.” Zhan Miao smiled. “I thought this painting of a hundred beasts symbolized good fortune, and I also thought that you have always loved cats, so I specially asked the embroiderer to add this detail. How did it become a mockery?”
Susan was speechless, her chest heaving. She really didn't expect Zhan Miao to be so vengeful, just because she had mocked her embroidery skills before, she sent such a birthday gift.
Zhan Miao didn't care how angry Susan was. At this moment, she noticed a servant in gray clothes standing in the corner of the hall. He had his head down, his fingers were tightly gripping the hem of his clothes, and his eyes kept glancing at the embroidery, with a hint of anxiety and expectation.
Zhan Miao took in the whole scene and sneered inwardly. The person behind the scenes had indeed arrived, waiting to see Susan die from poisoning.
Susan was so angry that she trembled all over, clutching the embroidery tightly, wanting to tear it to shreds but not daring to.
After a moment of silence, she casually tossed it to the maid beside her: "Put it away!"
Zhan Miao crossed his arms and watched leisurely, showing no intention of stopping him.
The gray-clad servant's face gradually turned deathly pale, fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and he swayed as if in disbelief.
Zhan Miao walked slowly to him and said, "What, are you surprised that Miss Su wasn't poisoned?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding area erupted in an uproar.
Susan was especially anxious, asking, "Zhan Miao, what do you mean? Why am I poisoned? Are you trying to harm me?"
Zhan Miao shook his head and explained, "It's not that I want to harm you, but someone wants to frame me and kill you. It's a long story. On my way here, someone stole the gift that was out in the open. When I found it, it had been coated with a deadly poison!"
Susan turned pale with fright and took a half step back in alarm, asking, "What about the one I have? Is it poisonous?"
Zhan Miao gave her a reproachful look: "Of course not, this is a backup gift. I'm glad I had the embroiderer prepare two sets, otherwise I would have really come to your birthday banquet empty-handed!"
After saying that, she looked at the trembling servant, her eyes like knives: "Speak? Who instructed you to murder Miss Su?"
The servant vehemently denied it: "Miss Zhan, don't make baseless accusations. I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Zhan Miao sneered: "It seems you won't give up until you're completely cornered. What I hate most is someone who does something wrong and then denies it. But it's okay, I'll torture you later, and you'll definitely change your story!"
The servant cried out in fear, "Miss Su, please save me! I just came to watch the commotion, how could Miss Zhan accuse me of poisoning? I am truly innocent! Her arrogance shows she has no respect for the Su family!"
Susan didn't care whether the servant lived or died; she only cared about the reputation of the Su family.
It's her birthday banquet again, and there are so many noble ladies watching. She really can't let Zhan Miao act willfully.
Even if she is the daughter of the Marquis of Zhanyi, it's still not allowed!
After a moment of silence, she asked with a serious expression, "Miss Zhan, how can you be so sure he is the real culprit who poisoned me? Do you have any evidence?"
Zhan Miao calmly replied, "No, it's just that he acted suspiciously. When you got that picture, he looked very nervous. My mother taught me that I must be able to read between the lines. Otherwise, why would I not suspect others but interrogate him?"